Technorati authority

Wolf scat is potentially dangerous.

September 2, 2006 — Ralph Maughan

Ed Bangs wrote “MFWP [Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks] veterinarian Mark Atkinson examined and keyed out some ‘unidentified eggs’ submitted by Kent Laudon (MFWP Kalispell, MT), from wolf NW112M. They were in fact, proglottids of Echinococcus granulosus, the tapeworm that is responsible for Hydatid disease. The tapeworm has a two stage life cycle. The adult tapeworm is attached in the canid gut and sheds eggs that are ingested by ungulates. The eggs develop into embryos that migrate out of the gut to form cysts in the ungulate’s lungs, liver, and other tissues. When the tissue with cysts is ingested by canids, the larval tapeworm develops into an adult tapeworm in the canid digestive tract- starting the life cycle again. Human infection from wild canid scat is almost nonexistent in North America, but anyone routinely handling wolf scat should be careful not to inhale eggs from dried wolf scat and to careful wash after handing wolf scat to avoid ingestion of eggs.”

People who hate wolves have tried to scare people with facts like these, but the truth is the scat of every predatory mammal and omnivores (like bears) is likely to carry parasites. This includes free running dogs and cats.

People do not normally smell or eat dog, coyote, cougar or bear scat. The scat of the domestic cat has infected millions of folks with toxoplasmosis, which is primarily dangerous to pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems

So if you are dumb enough to eat wolf shit, you certainly do have something to worry about, but that disgusting thought should put this “threat” into perspective.

Just when I think the ranchers and other anti-wolf
folks have reached the zenith of hyperbole, now comes
the toxic scat tactic. I expect it from them at this point
the lies and half truths. Hey, fear mongering works for
this administration to hide the truth of their failures, so why
not try it in other areas as well?

What concerns me even more, though, is the seemingly endless
capacity for the general public to be lied to without them having
a clue about questioning the assertion such as the scat scare. What
has caused such a lack of critical thinking and healthy skepticism?
Too much reliance on quick skimming instruments such as the 20 second
sound bite that passes for most folks feeling as if they are informed
about a subject? Video numbness? Seems as if reading a newspaper, or
heaven forbid, a book, is simply too much to ask of JQP these
days.